HUNTERSVILLE – Organic and natural grocery chain Whole Foods Market will take over an existing Food Lion store off I-77 Exit 25 in Huntersville for its first store north of Charlotte, a spokeswoman said Monday. The company says the store could open as early as next spring. Read the full story

This year’s Lake Norman area “Be the Match” bone marrow campaign runs this week, Sept. 16-20, and includes marrow registration drives in Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville and Huntersville as well as the annual Be the Match walk/run Sept. 28 in Jetton Park. Read the full story

Malia Ellington after her victory. (Nancy Ellington photo)

LONDON – Malia Ellington’s string of big triathlon wins continued Friday when she won her age group (16-19) at the ITU Sprint World Championships in Hyde Park, London. The 16-year-old Community School of Davidson student was one of seven Americans to win world titles at the rain-plagued event.  See the full story in SPORTS»

Sara Perfin, 18, told her story about attempting suicide, and growing beyond it. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Over the past few years our town has heard too many sad stories about suicide – children, aging parents, or friends who have seen no other way through pain than to take their own lives. But Saturday’s second annual “Gathering on the Green” offered a message of hope, in the voice of 18-year-old Sara Perfin.

Two years ago, the Bluefield, WV, native tried to end her life. “Sadness had taken such hold of me that I didn’t’ think I would be missed,” she told about 200 people on the Davidson Village Green.

Today she is student at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a survivor, speaking out to help others. “Looking back, I can’t believe how wrong I was,” she said. Read the full story

Authorities have retrieved the body of a Charlotte man who disappeared after falling off a charter boat on Lake Norman Labor Day weekend. Passing boaters called 911 around 12:30pm Saturday after spotting the body in the area where the man was lost, a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officer said Sunday. Read the full story

The United Way of Central Carolinas will host its annual Day of Caring on Saturday, with community service projects around the Lake Norman area. Kickoff is at 8am at Cove Church in Mooresville, where volunteers will receive a free T-shirt, project assignment, and continental breakfast. Read the full story

The Davidson Elementary Tiger and the Cornelius Elementary Cougar are among the mascots from local elementary schools that will be in Davidson for Saturday night’s Schoolhouse Rock & Run 10K and 1-mile fun run. The race is a fundraiser for E2D, Eliminate the Digital Divide, which is supplying computers to un-wired families in the two towns.

Mascots from local elementary schools were out on Main Street Thursday for a photo-op, helping to promote Summit Coffee’s Schoolhouse Rock & Run 10K and 1-mile fun run, coming up Saturday night. Read the full story

As Lake Norman communities look for ways to reduce the high number of  suicides and suicide attempts, public awareness is a key focus. That’s the main goal behind the second annual Gathering on the Green this Saturday, Sept. 14, in downtown Davidson.

Hosted by the town of Davidson LifeLine Committee, which includes citizens and officials concerned about suicide prevention, the event starts at 2pm at the Village Green, at North Main Street and Concord Road. The gathering includes speakers on the subject of suicide and live music by the Lake Norman Charter School Knight Riders Drum Line, Davidson Day School Contemporary Ensemble, and singer/guitarist Billy Jones. Read the full story